Chinese McDonald’s Introduces Symbolic ‘Black And White’ Burger Meal

In America, fast food giant McDonald’s has cornered the market for quick, on-the-go meals for quite some time. It’s burger business has also become a global force as well, with McDonald’s in other countries catering their menus[1] to the palettes of their citizens. In China, though, it seems Micky D’s may have taken things a bit too far by introducing some interesting symbolism in to a new “Black and White” burger combo meal (pictured above).

A colleague informed us they’re a play on a Chinese phrase: heibai liangdao tongchi (黑白两道通吃), which describes people who are so well-connected with both the government (that’s the “white” side) and organized crime (“black” society, as it’s called in Chinese) that they can “eat from both sides.” – In other words, someone who has a foot in both camps.

Chinese blog Beijing Cream[4] gave the burger meal a scathing review, however, writing:

This meal offends everyone. I would sooner eat a century egg bathed in stinky tofu with a chicken-foot garnish than order this again.